E-sessions

January 13, 2014

Jonathan and Brielle met sailing on Lake Michigan when they were 19 and 18, respectively. Brielle had just finished high school and was preparing to enter Tufts University in the fall. Jonathan had just finished his first year at MIT and was home in Chicago interning for the summer. He happened to work for one of Brielle's friend's fathers, who arranged the outing! Throughout college, Jonathan and Brielle developed a strong friendship. They became especially close during the summer of 2007. They were both interning in New York City, and to make extra cash, they moonlighted as concert promoters together (yes...it's true!). After that summer, it was clear that some romantic feelings were floating around, but neither one of them wanted to jeopardize their friendship and make a move! It wasn't until after Jonathan graduated from MIT, and Brielle was in her senior year of Tufts, that Jonathan decided to ask her on a ski date when she was home for winter break. They finally admitted their long-standing feelings for each other, and have been together ever since.

The Proposal:

What I really wanted out of the proposal (besides have Brielle say yes!) was to surprise her and create a lasting memory. She had been growing suspicious that something was afoot and I had been dismissing those suspicions to the point where she had called her parents concerned that I would try to wait until the day before I wanted to propose to buy a ring (little did she know that I had already told her parents my plans). But she was easily convinced that I had not done any advanced planning. I thought the outing with her cousins would be the perfect moment because she would never expect it and because she wouldn't be suspicious when people were taking pictures. I had plotted with Matt Marcus (future brother in-law) to take pictures and tipped him off a few moments before the proposal. I found a spot near the zoo that wasn't too crowded, walked over there and convinced Brielle that there was something I wanted her to see. Before she knew what was happening, I got down and one knee and asked her to marry me. For a few moments she didn't say anything, but held her hands to her face and was shaking her head from side-to-side. All I could think was that this was not the right moment and that she wanted me to wait and do it privately. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, she dropped down beside me and half-crying said "yes, of course yes". I was so incredibly happy (and relieved). I picked her up off the ground and wiped the tears of happiness from her eyes and gave her a big hug and kiss. - Jonathan

My cousins and I had arranged a family gathering to see the Zoo Lights during my winter break from graduate school at the University of Chicago. I had a sneaking suspicion that Jon was going to propose during my break, but I had a feeling I would be safe from the surprise if we were in public or with my family. Boy, did he prove me wrong! We all ate dinner together at Ranalli's pizza and, after we finished, began to walk towards the zoo. Jon started wandering off ahead of everybody, and I remember shouting ahead that he was going the wrong way! He turned to face me and said, "Before we go to zoo lights, I have something to ask you." As soon as he said that, my heart started racing and I knew this was the moment he was going to ask me to be his wife. My sister, brother-in-law, and cousins all took lots of pictures and a crowd of people gathered around cheering. I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I started crying, fell to my knees to kiss him, and, of course, said YES! - Brielle

November 27, 2013

Jeff and I took a trip to an island in the Caribbean called St. Kitts in September 2013. We were out to dinner at one of the most gorgeous restaurants on the island with an unbelievable view. The sun had just set and we were having a nice romantic dinner. After dinner, Jeff asked me to go and walk down on the beach to take a look at all of the beautiful stars in the sky. As we started our walk on the beach holding hands, before I knew it the love of my life was down on one knee asking me to marry him. I was extremely surprised and burst into tears of joy. I could not have been any happier in that moment. - Amanda

November 04, 2013

How they met: Mat and Nikki grew up 1 mile away from each other. They were bar mitzvahed by the same Rabbi at the same temple. Their dads are loyal to the same bike paths and their moms have passed each other shopping at the grocery countless times. How Nikki and Mat's paths never crossed until their matchmaker came along is a mystery.

The proposal: A mutual family friend insisted that the two should meet. He was convinced that Nikki and Mat would instantly fall in love. After some encouragement and nagging from their parents, Mat and Nikki went out on a date. They closed the restaurant down, enjoying one another's company so much, and the evening eventually ended with the future lovebirds splitting a pint of Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey on the car ride home. Over two years later, a pint of that same ice cream flavor held the beautiful ring that Mat would surprise Nikki with when he asked her to spend the rest of their lives together.

October 02, 2013

Be sure to check out their previous engagement session we shot in Paris.

Zach describes how he and Dena met: Dena and I have known each other for the past eleven years as I have been friends with her twin brother since the start of high school. We dated a little bit at the end of high school and the beginning of college, but we officially were on the path to wedded bliss when Dena was living in Charlotte after college. While staying in touch for a number of years and talking almost daily for a couple of weeks, we had a rather stressful night over our distance apart. I summed up all of my courage, and probably all of my money at the time, and bought a plane ticket to Charlotte for that night. I boarded my flight at 6:00am, got to her apartment by 10:30 and we never looked back from there.

The Proposal: Dena’s birthday fell in the middle of the week and I had gotten her a couple of smaller gifts telling her that I wanted to make her birthday special and celebrate a little each day with little gifts that would get better as the week went on. It started with a birthday card on Monday, a Lululemon outfit on Tuesday, and a mini J Crew shopping spree on Wednesday…to which Dena told me “I don’t know how it’s going to get better than this”. On Thursday, after having to sit through the longest meeting of our lives, we went back to our apartment where I told Dena that I didn’t have time to wrap Thursday’s gift so she had to close her eyes. I went and got the ring, telling her that Thursday’s present was something I knew was only for her…I asked her to marry me, and after hugs, tears and kisses…she said yes!

September 20, 2013

We met in Chicago over Memorial Day Weekend of 2012 at Newport Bar & Grill in Lakeview. Michael was visiting from California on his “Love Like This” tour, a 17-city music tour throughout the US and Canada. Emily had watched Michael on The Bachelorette/Pad and was invited to see Michael’s concert in Chitown by some of her friends. Originally, she declined the invitation as she had made plans to go up to WI for her Dad’s surprise 60th birthday party instead. But, as fate would have it, her sister Clare asked her last-minute if they could leave for home the following day, which allowed for Emily to go to the show!

After meeting thousands of women in 16 other cities and finding himself uninterested in every single one of them, Michael saw Emily walk into Newport before his set, and their story began. After Michael gave Emily a shout out from the stage, Emily walked right up to Michael after the show and asked him to get drinks. It was a simple “YES!” for Michael.They spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and dancing all over Chicago and ended up seeing each other later that same weekend before Michael left for Cali.

Once they were back in their respective cities, Michael and Emily decided that a long-distance relationship was not in their near-term future. Michael was leaving for Bachelor Pad 3 without cell phone or email access for a couple of weeks, and they had busy summer schedules which didn’t leave many open weekends for visits.

However, after Pad, Michael and Emily start talking via text, phone and skype and quickly realized they needed to see each other again to test this spark that hadn’t left since Memorial Day. So, Emily planned a trip to visit Michael 5 weeks after that first phone call. And a few days later, Michael decided that was too long to wait and booked a trip to come to Chicago in just 2 weeks!!! More than just a puppy love, they realized early on that something very special was starting.

The Proposal:

Contrary to his genuine and honest nature, Michael told many, MANY lies leading up to the engagement weekend. And, with the help of her family, tricked Emily into going up to Wisconsin on January 26th, 2013 to her parents’ house for a “work dinner to honor her Dad’s record sales year”. Thinking Michael had plans that weekend to keep him in Cali, she was NOT expecting for Michael to be there when she arrived.

Emily and her sister, Clare, pulled into the driveway… and it all began. Michael tied the ring box to their dog, Rowhan’s, collar, sent her outside to greet Emily, and one by one after the whole family was mysteriously outside in the 28 degree weather to watch this special event, Michael walked out the door…

After lots of smiles, an adequate amount of tears, and several looks of confusion from Emily, Michael dropped to a knee and asked Emily to be his wife. Unfortunately, Emily was still SO happy to see Michael and SOO surprised, she couldn’t stop asking questions of her own: “How long are you staying?” “When do you leave?” “I’m so glad to see you!”… She didn’t even hear the big question!

Still on his knee, Michael reminded Emily… “You didn’t answer the question.”

And with her family gathered together, watching from a few feet away… SHE SAID YES!

September 12, 2013

Alicia describes how they met: We actually met at a bar, with a very classy name of "Cans." :) It was your classic 'Girls Night Out' but when Mat and his British friends approached, the English accents were all too tempting! At the end of the night, Mat asked me for my number and the very next day rang me. We went on a few very successful dates and after a short amount of time fell in love. Now, six years later, we are making the ultimate commitment and getting married.

The Proposal: We were on a seven week trip visiting Australia, Bali, Thailand and the Maldives this past winter. Mat's original plan was to wait until our last night of the trip to propose to me but decided that Bali was the right place to do it. We fell in love with this country and for us, it was the most special place in the world. The last night we were there, Mat got down on one knee and proposed. We spent the remainder of the trip celebrating and didn't end up telling anyone until we landed in London. It could not have been more perfect for us!

September 11, 2013

The Proposal: Upon moving to Chicago after law school, one of Trang's first purchases for her first official home was a giant inflatable frog shapped ottoman which she creatively named "Froggy." People are usually drawn to him given his size and well, lets admit it, who can ignore the giant frog in the room! Chris was no different and actually started posing Froggy around Trang's house doing human-like things for Trang to find (e.g., watching tv, wearing socks, etc.). After awhile, it only seemed appropriate for Froggy to get a girlfriend, and thus (through the miracle of eBay), Lily joined our little household.

Cut to the engagement, unbeknownst to Trang, earlier in the summer Chris had spent two weeks with his mom sewing formal wear for all of the stuffed animals from Trang's childhood (including Froggy and Lily). Chris then hired EverySky Productions to help film Froggy and Lily's wedding as the lead-in to Chris' proposal to Trang. Chris then concocted an elaborate ruse culminating in Trang joining him to watch a movie with the Froggy and Lilly wedding preview.

August 20, 2013

Brion describes how they met: We met in 2009. We were both at a mutual friend's houseparty. The mutual friend introduced us, figuring that we'd get along because we were both in law. Nicole was in law school. I had been out of law school and practicing for a couple of years.

The proposal: We were in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for a week of skiing. While we were going down a wooded run on the mountain, I asked to stop for a break. I took off my skis, found the ring I had been hiding in my jacket and got down on one knee...

How they met: John and Citlaly met on an animal t-shirt trolley party hosted by a mutual friend. We didn't really know anyone else other than the host and found ourselves talking to each other and really connecting. John asked Citlaly over for dinner the following week...

The Proposal: John asked Citlaly with about a month's notice to reserve May 11th to celebrate the results of his teaching certification test. It was a little strange because John does not usually want a lot of special attention but Citlaly was happy to go along with it. When the night came, they headed to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse where the waiter asked what they were celebrating. John responded "Oh, our anniversary, three blissful years together!" Citlaly thought it was a little odd, but figured John just didn't want special attention, and the anniversary was just a few days away. After dinner they headed to Citlaly's apartment and John suggested a game of Scrabble. They both love board games and word games are Citlaly's particular favorite. Citlaly, always very competitive, was taking score and poking fun at John for his low scoring words. What she didn't realize was that John was not really playing at all! He had the words that he needed in his pockets and was spelling out the proposal! He kept asking Citlaly to get up (to turn on the radio, lower the volume, etc --surprisingly she did it without complaint). Then after freshening his drink she sat down and saw a "me" floating on the board and above it incorporated into the game the words "Will ewe merry me." Using homophones in texts has always been their "thing" and having it in the proposal made it all the more special.

July 31, 2013

How Samantha and Yoni met: We actually met on J-Date. But we like to believe that we would have met anyway, and J-Date just sped up the process. We both were planning to move into the same neighborhood within a few months of meeting and happened to have many mutual friends. But the craziest part of it all, is that Yoni's dad and Samantha's mom actually went to middle school together in Chicago and Yoni's dad was in the same age group at camp as both of Samantha's parents! And even more coincidentally, both Samantha's grandma and Yoni's grandma were friends when they were 10 years old in Jainesville, Wisconsin!

The proposal: On Thursday morning, September 13th, Sam woke up at 5:30am to get ready to go to the hospital for clinical. As she was brushing her teeth she found a note above the sink: "Check the front door before you leave." Taped to the front door was an envelope that said, "Sammie- Do not open until 12pm." Yoni proceeded to send Sam on an elaborate scanvenger hunt beginning in Evanston at a nail salon and ending with a proposal at the Bean in Millenium Park. Yoni rented a stretch SUV limo to escort Sam and the rest of the crew. At each of the eight stops Sam was greeted by a friend or family member who gave her the next clue and then joined her in the car. Each clue was a rhyming poem with a hint about the next stop. Each stop was a location special to Sam and Yoni: Prairie Moon, the location of their first date, Schuba's, where they went to a concert on their third date, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, where they saw a show the night before they went ring shopping. The list goes on... The second to last stop was in front of the Ramah office where Sam's parent, Beth and Jeff, and Yoni's mom, Linda, were waiting. Linda came in from Boston for the event! At the final stop Sam got out of the limo and walked to the Bean where she found Yoni awaiting her arrival, flowers in hand. He got down on one knee and proposed. Sam, of course, said yes! They hugged and took the now iconic photo of their engagement. Following the proposal Sam and Yoni were driven to a restaurant, Zed 451, where the entire scavenger hunt crew was waiting with champagne. Everyone toasted the couple and had a wonderful celebratory dinner together. It was an incredible night.